Article holder for service trays and stands



J. D. INGRAM ARTICLE HOLDER FOR SERVICE TRAYS ANDSTANDS Aug. 7, 1934.

Filed June 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 7, 1934. J. D. INGRAM ARTICLE HOLDER FOR SERVICE TRAYS AND STANDS Filed June 22, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W Mw\ MI. n f1 i .1 E p I v H 1 :IIIIIII. r n 1|.

Patented Aug. 7, 1934 U ITED sr rix 'fras ARTICLE HOLDERFOR SERVICE TRAYS a STANDS. A, v

'John David ngram, Dallas, Tex. Application June 22, 1933. Serial No. 677,128 1 2Claims. (01.65-85) f The present invention relates to article holders adapted particularly for use in connection with curb service of foods and beverages.

7 It has become quite a common practice today for road-side stands and eating places to serve their automobile customers at the curb or elsewhere while said customers remain in their auto mobiles. The food and drink are usually served upon trays and inthe course ofcarrying these 10 trays it frequently happens that the liquids are spilled. If napkins, straws, and other like service equipment are provided, as is quite the custom,

' they are damaged or soiled, making the service is also very unsatisfactory.

' '25 of such articles may be displaced therefrom as the food and drink are served from the tray.

More specifically, it is a further object to provide a combination holder having means adapted for application to a service tray so as to prevent accidental displacement or overturning of the holder device.

Another object resides in the provision of a tray engaging element which functions also as a connector for the receptacles and by means of which a unitary holder is produced capable of positive connection with the tray or of being stood upon the surface thereof, as may be desired.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my invention in position upon the edge of a service tray;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the holder device standing upon a flat surface instead of being attached to a tray;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modified form of the invention;

'sponding parts in the several figures of the drawings. I 7 Referring to the drawings and specifically describingthat form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, ldesig'nates an article receptacle, in' this instance a straw holder, cylindrical in cross section and open at the top to enable the removal of straws therefrom. For the major portion of its length this tubular receptacle has its sides cut away, as indicated at 2, the side opening thus formed tapering at each end to a narrow slot 3. While ready access is afforded to the straws by this form of opening, the slots 3 tend to restrict the number which may be removed at one time to a minimum of one or two.

A second open front receptacle 4, for holding napkins in a folded form, is associated with the straw holder 1, the sides 5 of this napkin receptacle being in the nature of spaced guide flanges. The two receptacles described are connected together by means of the fastening members 6 passing through the flanges 5. This arrangement rigidifies'" the holder 4 and makes a much stronger unit. To this unit preferably a supporting plate '7 is connected, as by means of fastening members 8. This plate is of spring metal and extends at one end beneath the receptacle 4, as shown in Fig. 3, while at its other end it is bent at an angle and rebent upon itself to form a strong attaching clip 9 by means of which to apply the unit to the edge flange of a service tray 10. The rear end of the plate 7 referred to, by cooperation with the bot-" tom of the receptacle 4, tends to resist bending of the plate from constantly attaching the clip to .trays and otherwise this plate serves as a supporting stand for holding the device in the position shown in Fig. 4 when placed upon a tray, a

table, or other flat surface. This attaching plate makes the unit much stronger in that its connection to the receptacles assists the connection between the receptacle 1 and the receptacle 4.

The supporting plate 7 may be omitted, how-".

By virtue of the relatively long receptacle 1 a.

wide surface contact of the bottoms of the two Each of these devices is preferably made of receptacles afiords a stable holder. chrome nickel finished metal or thin brass, cop- Passing now to that form of the invention per, aluminum, or the like. The sizes and shapes shown in Figs. 6 and 7 it will be observed that of the respective receptacles may be modified acthis diifers only from the form shown in Figs. 1 cording to the articles which are to be held there- 80 to 5 by the omission of the connecting plate by and it is to be understood that I do not wish and clip 7, 9. The holder device in this form is to be restricted to the specific forms herein disjust as efiectiverfor zholding napkins and straws .-closed -f,orthis-.,reason. e v but naturally itoccupies a portion 'of.the*s ur {'1 ;Havi ngf-thus adescribed'fmyii invention what I face of the tray and to this extent prevents the claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patfull use of this surface for the food anddrink. cm is:

It is for this reason that the form shown in. 1- 1. A unitary article holder comprising a cy1in Fig. 1 wherein the device is attachedto the edge drical receptacle, a napkin holder at one side of the tray, is considered-preferable. I f; -f thereofland a-supporting plate connecting said II In t e form of the inven ion S own n F g --receptacle and holder, said plate having an anand 9 the straw holding containers laois dis- .gularlywbentleg forming a rest to dispose the posed in vertical position and attached "tothe holder in substantially upright position when rear of the napkin holding:areceptacle-Aarby eplaced upon-a supporting surface, said leg havmeans of the fastening member 41) and to the boting. an integral tray gripping element on its up- IO tom of said receptacle by the clip plate 7a through per side for attaching the holder to trays. 5

-.the.f fi n i 7 m r c pt 2.- Anyarticle holdingedevicerof the class deo-preferablycontains; the, straw ejector comprisingyvscribed; comprising a receptacle:havingnan open the stem 11, the bottom disc 12;upo n which-the top for removing .thetcontents"thereof;v asecond i' straws rest*. and the top discs13 which; constitutes? receptacle: disposed: withxitsn bottom- .in substanwas a cover for the open-endedmeoeptacle. .The end:. -.vtiallyithe-same plane vas the -first:-receptacle".-to

=. 1 of the stem is? provided with a fingerpiece-1'4 bywprovide a relat-ively wide supporting surface vconmeans of which the ejector is-zelevatedztzi render atact when 'thebottoms of vsaidwreceptaclesx-are the straws projected from themouthof the re-aadisposed tupon a plane support-,- said secondmeceptacle accessible-for displacement. Theplateflae;,ceptacle having an openyfront wall formed with i -30 referred to is provided with the friction-IcliprQa: spaced guide flanges;.andqfasteningimeans- :for'az105 l. 135111]; the firstiormdescribed. kiIt zwilhbe; obvious: clamping theyside surface: of the first receptacle -.-that-this formofthe ,:invention-.=.may.-readilygbe zgagainst :therfront face offthe flanges of thesec- :attache'd .tothetrays-andis: much narrowenthan 10nd whereby -to. connect:v the receptaclestogether .7 the forms showninthe othenfigures of the"drawsto -form aholderunit.

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